Cost of Living Comparison Between Arica and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Arica and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,083 per month in Arica vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,646 per month in Arica vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,209 per month in Arica vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Arica costs about 7% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Arica and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Arica 19% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.53 CLP 7,666

$5.95 COP 20.8K

43.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.28 CLP 40.7K

$33.33 COP 116.3K

35.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 CLP 7,048

$7.23 COP 25.2K

8.44%

Cappuccino

$2.71 CLP 2,434

$1.63 COP 5,687

66.26%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 CLP 1,162

$1.09 COP 3,821

18.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 CLP 913

$0.73 COP 2,548

39.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 CLP 2,920

$1.74 COP 6,065

86.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 CLP 3,800

$3.23 COP 11.3K

30.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,107

$1.05 COP 3,662

17.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 CLP 1,424

$1.29 COP 4,515

22.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 CLP 1,722

$1.32 COP 4,617

45.45%

Eggs

$3.57 CLP 3,204

$2.27 COP 7,927

57.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.63 CLP 9,549

$4.35 COP 15.2K

144.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 CLP 6,141

$5.88 COP 20.5K

16.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.81 CLP 9,719

$8.61 COP 30.0K

25.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,689

$2.25 COP 7,844

-16.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 CLP 1,364

$1.07 COP 3,733

42.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 CLP 1,370

$1.52 COP 5,322

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,360

$1.42 COP 4,964

6.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 CLP 1,151

$1.17 COP 4,084

9.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,222

$1.17 COP 4,077

16.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 CLP 1,133

$0.89 COP 3,096

41.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 CLP 1,046

$0.90 COP 3,146

28.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.54 CLP 4,976

$2.25 COP 7,837

146.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.77 CLP 5,188

$11.04 COP 38.5K

-47.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 CLP 1,446

$1.14 COP 3,977

41.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 CLP 1,993

$2.38 COP 8,301

-6.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 CLP 554

$0.84 COP 2,916

-26.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 CLP 422

$1.41 COP 4,912

-66.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,275

$1.01 COP 3,509

40.59%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.4K CLP 17.4M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

10.24%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.4K CLP 19.2M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

-19.42%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$134 CLP 120.8K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

60.59%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.48 CLP 12.1K

$9.45 COP 33.0K

42.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.38 CLP 20.1K

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-7.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.17 CLP 35.2K

$25.31 COP 88.3K

54.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.04 CLP 18.9K

$19.14 COP 66.8K

9.93%

Cinema Ticket

$5.75 CLP 5,167

$4.10 COP 14.3K

40.24%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$444 CLP 398.7K

$312 COP 1.1M

42.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 CLP 46.4K

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-11.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.82 CLP 27.7K

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-5.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.7 CLP 50.1K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-44.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 CLP 75.2K

$109 COP 378.8K

-22.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 CLP 440.6K

$482 COP 1.7M

1.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 CLP 331.7K

$379 COP 1.3M

-2.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$895 CLP 804.7K

$837 COP 2.9M

6.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 CLP 524.3K

$723 COP 2.5M

-19.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$536 CLP 482.0K

$541 COP 1.9M

-0.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

13.43

-61.43%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arica: June 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Arica versus $482 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Arica versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $230 vs $190 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Arica vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,083 in Arica, $1,017 in Medellin – roughly 7% apart. Arica costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,625 per month in Arica and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Arica and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Arica, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Arica at $1,083. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arica it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,017 in Medellin to $1,083 in Arica. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arica makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.